Publication details
Euroscepticism and the EU Enlargement Process
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | There has been increasing bulk of research on Euroscepticism in recent years. Majority of new literature focus on innovative conceptualization of Euroscepticism, its role in major events as the Eurozone crisis or deal with its position within EU decision making system. There, however, are still areas that have not been studied sufficiently– typically, preferences of Eurosceptics in specific policy areas. EU enlargement policy represents such case which is quite striking since enlargement is not just “another” EU policy but above all the tool affecting the very nature of integration. This paper wants to fill this gap and analyses how soft and hard Eurosceptics treat the enlargement process. It focuses on a) parties´ manifestos and b) voting behaviour of these parties in the European parliament. The main findings of the study can be summarized as follows. First, Eurosceptics of any nature pay very little attention to the enlargement issue. Regarding their voting on the issue, there is clear distinction between soft and hard Eurosceptics when the former support further enlargement and the later oppose it. Additionally, left wing Eurosceptics seem to be strongest opponents of the enlargement. |
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